Control for radio receivers



Sept. 10, 1940. GLAMB 2,214,453

CONTROL FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Fil ed Oct. 16, 1936 2 Shoots-$heet 1 .Sept. 10, 1940. GLAMB 2,214,458

CONTROL FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Oct. 16, 19:56 2 stints-sneak INVENTOR. 6242716; 4. 67422 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 2,214,458 CONTROL FOB mmo miomvnas Stanley L. Glamb, Detroit, Mich. Application October 16, 1936, Serial No. 105,849

3 Claims. (01. 74-10) I This invention relates to radio receivers and more particularly to mechanical means for controlling such receivers from remote points, such for example as from various seats of vehicles such as motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, trains, or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide'a mechanical radio control device having a plurality of remotely located control heads each with tuning and volume control means and adapted to tune and control the 'radio receiver and to reproduce the control operations on all of the remaining control heads, whereby all of said control heads are synchronized with respect to each other at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device adapted to control a radio receiver from a plurality of remote points, said device being capable of use either as a separate attachment or as a built-in part of a radio receiving set.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanical radio control device of the remote type which will synchronize the control system of a radio receiver in either direction, 1. e. from one particular control head toward the receiver or away from the receiver toward another control head. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel remote control device for automobile radios having control heads located adjacent the rear seat as well as adjacent the front seat, all of said heads being constantly synchronized.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a remote control radio dial adapted to be installed flush with a wall surface or upholstery of a vehicle compartment, all of the controlling cables being concealed.

An added object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which is simple and rugged in construction, and cheap to manufacture, install, service, and repair.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the general arrangement of the parts of the remote control device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a similar device with couplings being arranged within the casing ofv a radio receiver;

Fig. 3 is a front view of one control head showing the inside thereof, magma cover being removed; 5

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of one control head, section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cable connection to the tuning control knob, section being taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of one coupling with cable plugs, the coupling and one of the plugs being shown in section; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of one coupling looking from the right hand end thereof.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodimentsand of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there is shown by way of example, a remote control device for radio receivers embodying the present invention. The device in its preferred form herein illustrated comprises a front control head l0 and a similar rear control head ll. Said control heads are provided with tuning knobs l2 and l 3, and volume control knobs l4 and i5, respectively. The tuning knobs l2 and I3 of said heads are connected by means of a suitable train of gears to the shafts l6 and I! of indicating dials l8 and I9, respectively, and to the condenser coupling 20 by means of driving cables or flexible shafts 2| and 22, respectively. The condenser coupling 20 is operatively connected by means of a cable 23 to the shaft 24 of a variable condenser 25. The coupling 20 provides a direct connection between the cables 2| and 23 and a reversible driving connection to the cable 22. The reversible driving connection may be any driving connection wherein the driven member may be used also as the driving member. All of the driving connections employed between the knobs and the radio receiver are adapted to maintain the same rotative speed in both driving and driven members.

By virtue of the above construction, rotation of the tuning knob of either of the control heads is transmitted both to the condenser shaft 24 and to the tuning knob of the other control head. Since tuning knobs of both heads are connected to the shafts of their respective indicating dials, tuning operations performed at one control head are similarly registered by the indicating dials of both of said heads. I

The volume control knobs I4 and I5 are connected by means of flexible shafts or cables 26 and 21 to the volume control coupling 26, which in turn is connected with the aid of a cable 29 with the shaft 36 of the volume control mechanism 3| of the receiver. The cables 26 and 29 are abutting and are secured to each other at their ends with the aid of a connecting shaft, while the shaft 21 is connected to said shaft with the aid of a reversible driving connection operating to rotate the shaft 21 at the same speed as the driving shaft.

By virtue of the above construction the cables 21, 26 and 29 rotate at the same speed and rotation of the volume control knob of one head is transmitted to both the shaft 36 of the volume control mechanism and volume control knob of the other head. Thus adjusting of the volume of sound may be made from either of said control heads.

It will be clear in view of the foregoing that with the aid of my novel device it is possible to control a radio receiver from a plurality of remote control heads and in addition to maintain all of said heads constantly synchronized with respect to each other.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate in detail the construction of the control head I6, it being understood that the control head I I is identical in construction with the control head I6, and therefore a separate detailed illustration and description of said head II is unnecessary. Referring to the drawings, the control head I6 comprises a casing 33 provided with the dial I6 as mentioned, and a frame 34 adapted to receive a radio log card, a

calendar, a picture, or the like, which may be illuminated by the same light bulb that illuminates the dial I8. In the bottom portion of the casing 33 there are provided connections for the cables 26 and'2I. The connection of said cables to the shafts of their respective knobs is of similar construction and is shown in Fig. 5, which shows the connection of the cable 2| to the shaft of the tuning knob I2. Referring to said figure, the armor 2Ia of the cable 2| is secured to a pressed-in sleeve 35 attached with the aid of a set screw 36 (see Fig. 3) to a bushing 31 secured to the casing 33. The flexible shaft 2Ib enters the sleeve 35 wherein it engages, with the aid of an end piece 36, the slotted end of a vertically extending shaft 39 supported in a bracket 46. The opposite end of said shaft 39 carries a bevel gear 4L1neshing' with a similar bevel gear 42 carried by the shaft 43 of the tuning knob I2. Longitudinal locking of the shaft 39 is effected by means of two similar bushings or adapters 44 and 45 mounted on the shaft 39 and secured thereto with the aid of set screws and bearing against the bracket 46 and the bushing 31, respectively. Longitudinal adjustments of the shaft 39 may be made by changing the positions of said adapters on said shaft. The shaft 43 is supported at its ends in the casing 33, a bracket 46 providing an additional support for the middle portion of said shaft. Connection f the cable 26 to the shaft of the volume adjusting knob I4 is similar to the above described construction, the bracket supporting the middle portion of said shaft being indicated by the numeral 41.

For the purpose .of operatively connecting the tuning knob I2 with the hand of the indicating dial, there is provided a train of gears operatively connecting the shafts 43 and I6 and effecting a desired speed reduction between said shafts. In the present embodiment said train of gears comprises a gear 46 mounted on'the shaft 43 and meshing with a large gear 49 mounted on an intermediate shaft 56, which shaft also carries a smaller gear meshing with a large gear 52 mounted on the dial shaft I6 carrying the indicating hand 53. Any desired speed reduction may be attained by properly selecting the number of teeth on said gears.

The cables 2| and 22 are connected to the con- Udenser coupling 26 by means of plugs insertable in the nipples provided in said coupling. Said plugs are of similar construction in all of the cables 2|, 22, 23, 26, 21 and 29 and therefore only one of them, namely that of the cable 2|, is herein described in detail. Referring to Fig. 6, said connection comprises an end cup 54 secured to the armor 2Ia of the cable 2| and provided with a hole for the passage of the flexible shaft 2Ib, the end of which carries an end piece or tip 55 adapted to engage the slotted end of a shaft 66. The shaft 56 is mounted in the casing of the coupling 26 concentrically with an externally threaded nipple 51 adapted to be engaged by an internally threaded cap 56. By inserting the tip 65 into the nipple 51 until engagement with the shaft 56 is effected, and tightening the cap 56 onsaid nipple, a dependable connection is produced,

which connection may be easily disconnected at will.

The coupling 26 comprises a casing consisting of two cup-shaped pieces 56 and 66 connected by means of a pair of bolts 6|. In said casing there are rotatably mounted shafts 56, 62 and 63. The shaft 56 connects the ends of the cables 2| and 23 directly and maintains, with the aid of a suitable train of gears, a driving connection with the shaft 63 adapted to engage the cable 23. In the present embodiment said train of gears comprises gears 64 and 65 mounted on the shafts 56 and 63, respectively, and an intermediate gear 66 mounted on the shaft 62. No reduction of speed is effected by said train of gears and, therefore, all of the connected shafts 56, 62 and 63 rotate at the same angular speed.

When the tuning knob I2 of the head I6 is being manually adjusted, its rotation is transmitted without any change of angular speed to the shaft 39, cable 2| and cable 23 to the condenser shaft. At the same time the gear connection of the coupling operates to rotate the shaft 63, cable 22 and the tuning knob I3 of the control head II. Thus rotation of the tuning knobs I2 and I3, as well as rotation of the indicating hands of the dials of said heads, is perfectly synchronized. Volume control knobs are synchronized in a similar manner.

Fig. 2 shows a modified form of the control device in which couplings 61 and 66 similar to the couplings 26 and 26 of the preferred structure, are mounted within the casing 69 of the radio receiver. This construction permits elimination of the cables 29 and 23 as well as with the connections provided at the ends thereof. In said modified structure the connecting shafts of the couplings 66 and 61 are secured to the shafts 36 and 24 of the volume control mechanism 3| and the condenser 25 by means of adapters I6 and II. 76

when my control device is installed in a motor vehicle, the head I0 may be mounted on the instrument panel for the accommodation of the occupants of the front seat, while the head ll may be installed in the rear portion of the vehicle within the convenient reach of the occupants of the rear seat. The radio receiver proper may be installed at any desired place such as under one of the seats, and the cables and couplings may be concealed under the upholstery. Tuning the receiver may be done from either seat, and yet both heads are perfectly synchronized at all times.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to two control heads only as herein illustrated, since any practical number of control heads may be served by two couplings. Connections similar to that of the cable 22 may be arranged all the way around the shaft 56 and the gear 64 made to drive the corresponding number of gear trains. If only three control heads are desirable, the third head may be driven by an additional cable connection provided on the free extremities of the shaft 63 of the coupling 20 and the similar shaft of the coupling 28.

It will be seen that the control head of the present invention may be used with various types of known control heads by matching the gear ratio of such control heads through providing the gears 5| and 52 of the same gear ratio as the gear ratio of the known control head. The gears 5| and 52 may be provided in a number of desired gear ratios and be interchangeably mounted on the shafts l6 and 50.

-tion of component parts of the device is attained in both directions, that is, from the active control head toward the receiver, and from the receiver to the other head or heads.

I claim:

1. In a control device for a radio receiver having a rotatable control shaft, a plurality of remotely located rotatable control knobs and a rotatable flexible driving cable operatively connecting one of said knobs with the receiver, a coupling interposed in said cable and comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected by its extremities to said driving cable, a second shaft mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected with another similar control knob, and a reversible driving connection between said shafts, whereby reversible interconnection of said control knobs and division of the single power transmitting path into a plurality of parallel paths is effected.

2. In a control device for a radio receiver having a control shaft, a plurality of remotely located rotatable control knobs; a corresponding plurality of rotatable flexible cables, each cable having one end operatively connected to one of said control knobs; a coupling comprising a shaft drivingly connected to said receiver shaft, a main gear mounted on said coupling shaft and rotating therewith, one of said cables being drivingly connected to saidcoupling shaft; a gear connected for rotation to the opposite end of one of said cables and drivingly connected tosaid main gear.

3. In a control device for a radio receiver having a condenser shaft, a plurality of remotely located tuning shafts, a gear mounted on said condenser shaft, a train of interchangeable gears meshing with said gear, a knob on each of said tuning shafts for operating the same; a plurality of rotatable flexible cables, each cable having one end drivingly connected to one of said tuning shafts; a coupling comprising a shaft drivingly connected to said condenser shaft,

one of said cables being drivingly connected to said coupling shaft; a gear connected for rotation to the opposite end of one of said cables and drivingly connected to said first mentioned gear.

STANLEY L. GLAMIB. 

